Manufacturing component trading card

ABSTRACT

A collectible trading card ( 10 ) includes a manufacturing component ( 12 ) that is used in the manufacture of a collectible item ( 16 ), and a card body ( 14 ) that retains the manufacturing component ( 12 ). The manufacturing component ( 12 ) includes a component image ( 18 ) that is transferred to the collectible item ( 16 ) and the card body ( 14 ) includes a card image ( 230 ) that is similar to the component image ( 18 ). The manufacturing component ( 12 ) is embedded into the card body ( 14 ). The card body ( 14 ) includes a viewing region ( 20 ) for exposing the manufacturing component ( 12 ). The card body ( 14 ) includes a first body section ( 22 ) and a second body section ( 24 ) and the manufacturing component ( 12 ) is positioned between the body sections ( 22 ) ( 24 ). The manufacturing component ( 12 ) can be a lithography plate.

RELATED APPLICATION

This Application claims the benefit on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/604,295, filed on Aug. 25, 2004. The contents of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/604,295 are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Trading cards are a popular way to collect images and information about athletes and celebrities. Unfortunately, many of the trading cards are manufactured in large quantities and are not very unique. Further, existing trading cards do not provide collectors with a behind the scenes look at the manufacturing components used to make popular trading cards.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a first trading card that includes a manufacturing component that is used to make a collectible item and a card body that retains the manufacturing component. In one embodiment, the manufacturing component includes a component image that is transferred to the collectible item and the card body includes a card image that is similar to the component image.

In one version, the manufacturing component is embedded into the card body and the card body includes a viewing region for exposing the manufacturing component. Further, the card body can include a first body section and a second body section and the manufacturing component can be positioned between the body sections.

As provided herein, the manufacturing component can be a lithography plate or a press plate that was used to make the collectible item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a first trading card having features of the present invention and a collectible item;

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the first trading card of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first trading card of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a trading card having features of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a collectible, first trading card 10 that includes a manufacturing component 12 and a card body 14. The manufacturing component 12 is used in the manufacture of one or more collectible items 16 (only one is illustrated in FIG. 1). Further, the card body 14 fixedly retains the manufacturing component 12. The size and shape of these components can be varied to suit the desired design requirements of the trading card 10.

With this design, in certain embodiments, the first trading card 10 is a one of a kind, unique, collectible trading card that provides a behind the scenes look at an authentic piece of the equipment used to manufacturing of collectible items 16. Further, the first trading card 10 provides a safe way to view the manufacturing component 12 and the manufacturing component 12 is protected by the card body 14.

In one embodiment, the first trading card 10 is generally flat, rectangular shaped and has a length of between 2 and 6 inches, a width of between approximately 1.5 and 4.0 inches, and a thickness of between approximately 0.125 and 0.5 inches. For example, the first trading card 10 can be a standard trading card having a length of approximately 3.5 inches, and a width of approximately 2.5 inches.

As discussed above, the manufacturing component 12 is used in the manufacturing of one or more collectible items 16. For example, the manufacturing component 12 can be a piece of manufacturing memorabilia, such as a lithography plate, (a press plate) or a portion of one of the plates. The manufacturing component 12 can include a component image 18 that has been transferred to the collectible item 16 during the manufacture of the collectible item 16. As non-exclusive examples, the component image 18 can be that of a sports athlete, a celebrity, an entertainer, an image used in a card game, an animated character, an animal or landscape.

The card body 14 fixedly retains the manufacturing component 12. In one embodiment, the manufacturing component 12 is embedded into the card body 16 and the card body 14 includes a viewing region 20 for exposing a portion of the manufacturing component 12, such as the component image 18. For example, the viewing region 20 can be a rectangular shaped opening. Alternatively, for example, the viewing region 20 can be another shape, such as oval, circular, or octagonal shaped.

In one embodiment, the card body 14 includes a first body section 22 and a second body section 24 and the manufacturing component 12 is positioned between the body sections 22, 24. In FIG. 1, the viewing region 20 is die-cut into the first body section 22. Alternately, the viewing region 20 can be in the second body section 24.

In one embodiment, the card body 14 includes card information 26 relating to and/or explaining the manufacturing component 12, the component image 18, and/or the company that manufactures or distributes the first trading card 10.

The design of the collectible item 16 can vary. For example, the collectible item 16 can be a second trading card having a somewhat similar size and shape as the first trading card 10 described above. In one embodiment, the collectible item 16 includes an item image 28 that was transferred to the collectible item 16 with the manufacturing component 12 and that is similar to the component image 18. For example, the item image 28 can have the same size and characteristics as the component image 18. However, the item image 28 can include color.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the first trading card 10. In one embodiment, the first trading card 10 includes a card image 230 that is similar to the component image 18 (illustrated in FIG. 1), and the item image 28 (illustrated in FIG. 1). The card image 230 can be the same size, smaller or larger than the component image 18. In FIG. 2, the card image 230 is displayed on the second body section 24.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first trading card 10, including the manufacturing component 12, and the first body section 22 and the second body section 24 of the card body 14. In one embodiment, the manufacturing component 12 is made of a metallic material and each body section 22, 24 is made of card stock.

In this embodiment, the manufacturing component 12 is generally flat, rectangular plate shaped. In one embodiment, the manufacturing component 12 has a length of between 2.5 and 4.5 inches, a width of between approximately 1.5 and 3.5 inches, and a thickness of between approximately 0.1 and 0.3 inches.

Further, in this embodiment, the first body section 22 is generally flat, rectangular plate shaped and includes the viewing region 20. Moreover, in this embodiment, the second body section 24 is generally flat, rectangular plate shaped. In one embodiment, the second body section 24 includes a recessed area 332 that is sized and shaped to receive the manufacturing component 12. Stated another way, the recessed area 332 has a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the manufacturing component 12. With this design, the manufacturing component 12 can be securely sandwiched between the body sections 22, 24 without influencing the overall thickness of the first trading card 10. Alternately, for example, the recessed area 332 can be in the back side of the first body section 22.

In one embodiment, a section retainer 334 secures the body sections 22, 24 together. For example, the section retainer 334 can be an adhesive. Alternatively, the body sections 22, 24 can be laminated together.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a first trading card 410 that is similar to the first trading card 10 described above. However, in this embodiment, the card image 430 is positioned on the first body section 422.

It is to be understood that the trading card 10 disclosed herein is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims. 

1. A first trading card comprising: a manufacturing component used in the manufacture of a collectible item; and a card body that retains the manufacturing component.
 2. The first trading card of claim 1 wherein the manufacturing component includes a component image that is transferred to the collectible item.
 3. The first trading card of claim 2 wherein card body includes a card image that is similar to the component image.
 4. The first trading card of claim 1 wherein the manufacturing component is embedded into the card body.
 5. The first trading card of claim 4 wherein the card body includes a viewing region for exposing the manufacturing component.
 6. The first trading card of claim 4 wherein the card body includes a first body section and a second body section and the manufacturing component is positioned between the body sections.
 7. The first trading card of claim 1 wherein the collectible item is a second trading card.
 8. The first trading card of claim 1 wherein the manufacturing component is a lithography plate.
 9. The first trading card of claim 1 wherein the manufacturing component is a press plate.
 10. A first trading card comprising: a manufacturing component used to manufacture a collectible item having an item image, the manufacturing component including a component image that has been transferred to the collectible item to make the item image; and a card body that encloses the manufacturing component, the card body including a viewing region that exposes the component image.
 11. The first trading card of claim 10 wherein card body includes a card image that is similar to the component image.
 12. The first trading card of claim 10 wherein the manufacturing component is embedded into the card body.
 13. The first trading card of claim 12 wherein the card body includes a first body section and a second body section and the manufacturing component is positioned between the body sections.
 14. The first trading card of claim 10 wherein the manufacturing component is a lithography plate.
 15. The first trading card of claim 10 wherein the manufacturing component is a press plate.
 16. A method for making a first trading card comprising the steps of: providing a manufacturing component that is used in the manufacture of a collectible item; and retaining the manufacturing component with a card body.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing includes the step of providing a manufacturing component that includes a component image that is transferred to the collectible item.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of retaining includes the step of embedding the manufacturing component into the card body.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing includes providing a manufacturing component that is a lithography plate.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing includes providing a manufacturing component that is a press plate. 